Hello. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I was wondering how you created the green area between the main body and the sidebar at this site: http://momswhoblog.blogspot.com/. I've got a colored background outside the main and sidebar but not between the two. Here's my attempt: http://colorstruck.blogspot.com.

I have just started my own blog a little over a week ago. I use the em dash all the time, except that I don't know how to type it! So, as you have correctly pointed out here, I use 2 hyphens, which is not pretty at all.

I asked a friend if it's possible to type the em dash in the blog, and she directed me here. And I am pleased to get this tip!

But there is just one more problem; I am an idiot when it comes to computers (I don't know what was I thinking starting my own blog!), but -- and this is embarrassing -- which one is the OPTION key?

This is FIVE people who've asked what the option key is... And the first question was nearly a year ago. I don't think we're going to get an answer. Apparently, this is an abandoned blog. The last post was in November of 2007!!!There are some great tips on here, but don't expect an answer.

So no one is dumb for asking. A lot of other people don't know what it is either!

I'm a PC. And I use MS word. Which version? I do not know. Am I lazy? Yes. If you are a PC, and use Word. Press Ctrl+Alt+Dash (from your number pad). Voila! I've no clue what the hell an "option" key is, I urge you all to smash your face into your keyboard if you spent time searching for this myth of a key.

Here's a solution for when you might be using other programs (besides Word):

"To form an em dash on most PCs, type the first word, then hold down the ALT key while typing 0151 on the numerical pad on the right side of your keyboard. Then type the second word." It worked fine for me. :-)

I don't know why this has been so excruciating. Yes, the Option key is a key on Mac keyboards. It's the equivalent of the Alt key, but it works quite differently, notably in a number of quicker and easier ways to type various characters.

Since several readers seem interested in using the em dash, some may want to use an en dash as well. Its length is between that of a hyphen and an em dash, and it is most often used to separate dates, such as 1885–87, and sports scores or similar numbers: My girl's soccer team thumped their opponent 5–1. On a Mac, use Option+Hyphen; I assume that on a PC that would be Alt+Hypen. I'm a Web editor working in Wordpress, so I know the Mac keyboard shortcut will work in Wordpress as well as in Microsoft Word. However, I see in Preview that the en dashes were converted to hyphens on this blog. I hope this helps. Gotta dash now.